French Green
Lens culinaris
105 days — 'French Green' lentils, as their name implies, are green in color but heavily mottled with dark green and black highlights. If you look closely, it almost looks like they are painted in a modern digital jungle camouflage pattern! They are very delicious tasting and cook quickly without needing to be pre-soaked.
Lentils are one of the most ancient of all cultivated foods but rarely
grown by modern gardeners. Archaeologists have found lentil seeds dating
to the Bronze Age. Lentils are grown in most European countries, Asia,
North Africa and North America. Small lentils tend to be more flavorful
and are preferred in the Middle East.
Lentils belongs to the
protein rich legume family. The lentil's high protein content is said to
be more easily digested than that of larger beans. They are also high
in iron. Additionally, when you consider the nutritional superiority of
lentils over a staple like pasta, you might want to serve them instead.
Compared with spaghetti, lentils supply much more folate (folic acid),
which reportedly fights heart disease. They have considerably more fiber
(about 25% of which is the soluble form, and helps to lower
cholesterol); and more protein. Lentils make a fine side dish and an
excellent basis for salads and hearty soups. Each 0.25 ounce is approximately 200 seeds.
